Hi everyone! Recent 2019 UCSD graduate here!!! I wanted to share some info with you all!
First off, congrats on getting into UCSD- it is an extremely hard, competitive and rewarding school to get into!
UCSD was honestly the best decision I have ever made in my life! I learned so much about my self, and my major, as well as the world around me. I graduated with much more than a degree. You will meet so many amazing people, and be challenged and changed through your undergraduate time.
UCSD is NOT socially dead- it really is what you make it! There are hundreds of clubs and fun ways to get connected. I came from super rural town in Nor Cal and knew NO ONE, I made so many life long friends my first year that I sill am ver close with to this day!
The classes ARE hard! They are rigorous, but they will bring you growth and change! STEM is one of the most popular majors, as majority of students are pre med/ health, however, pre law students, engineers, co sci and computer sci is also very prevalent! I have met so many different majors, and each person I met said that UCSD has taught them something they have never thought possible!
GET INVOLVED. GET INVOLVED. GET INVOLVED! This is not only how you will make connections, but also how you will land internships and jobs! There are so many great ways to get involved on campus!
Imposter syndrome- a lot of the students a UCSD are legit changing the world around us, in so many amazing ways and YOU will sometimes feel like you don’t fit in. This is the most exciting thing, because you will realize you are smart enough to be here! I felt inspired by all the amazing work my friends were doing, that I go so involved in so much on campus (I even created my own club) and off campus!
I wanted to share some tips with you all who are trying to decide if this is the school for you, or those who have already decided!
COLLEGES- If you’re a transfer student, the college system doesn’t really apply to you-incoming freshman, essentially you will be housed in this area, and meet your new housemates and friends( they do not share the same major as you 9/10) It just a way to make the school smaller and have many small communities! Each college has a theme and unique things that make YOU feel special and welcomed!
(Also UCSD is a 5 min walk from the beach! Almost everyone surfs or learns how to- what school can say that?!)
PRO TIPS:
Get a metal bike lock!
Free printing in most of the resource centers- like cross cultural
First time walking down to blacks- be prepared that its a LONG AND HARD WALK UP
Don’t miss sunsets, parties or time to hang out because you’re too busy studying
7th floor Gisele it usually open- study room 223 is usually never full
JOIN THE FACEBOOK GROUP- don’t have a fb? MAKE ONE
Triton food pantry gives free food- take advantage of it!
Don’t just join one club!
Check out the outback center- you can take surf classes!!
DO NOT PROCRASTINE
Get a planner! trust me you will need one- there is so much to do!
Parking is very hard to find
Don’t drink alcohol in the dorm rooms, you WILL get caught
Yes, there are off campus parties!
GO TO OFFICE HOURS!
Be super social your first few weeks! everyone is new & trying to make friends, just like you!
Be on the lookout for scholarships!
Apply to be an RA if you want FREE HOUSING after your first year!
Hope this helps you all! Congrats!
Im now applying for grad school, and am so thankful for UCSD. It really is one of the best universities in the world! I went in with one major and a somewhat sense of self and left ready to pursue grad school in a different area of study and a new understanding of my self!
My Daughter got accepted into Structural Engineering, Seventh College. Does anyone know if Seventh college, being new, means newly constructed dorms? Will there be airconditioning there?
MY kid is trying to decide which University to choose out of several grate options, and UCSD is one of the top three options on her list. The Air Conditioning questions bothers her.
Also, does anyone know if Structural Engineers have much of hands-on engineering experience the during their first year, like Cal Poly San Luis Obispo claims it has?
may be you know, @lkg4answers? Or you, @76AstroGurl23 ? Thanks, everyone!
@ElenaParent I don’t have much info on seventh since I got into Muir, but I do know that students in Seventh college dorm in “The Village”, which used to be transfer housing. They are not “new”, but they are newer than most (if not all) dorms on campus. I’m also pretty sure that they are apartment-style. I don’t know much about the AC or any other amenities, but you should tell your daughter to consult the UCSD reddit page!! There are a lot of very helpful UCSD students there, so I’m sure someone who lives/lived at the village could answer her questions!!
@lilgcs , if you took EXTRA courses from Community colleges, why would that be a negative for UCSD (and possible further re-evaluation of your application)? If anything, the course makes you an even stronger student, than what they expected!
Can you please elaborate the logic that UCSD gave you?
@calcuttaboy2002: Any school has the right to go back and review an application especially if the applicant left off important academic information. The response that @lilgcs got is just standard. As long as an applicant has not purposely omitted a bad grade from their application, then their admission will stand. In OP’s case, everything was fine, they accepted the college course credit and admission was confirmed.
Looking for some advice from experienced folks in this forum…
My younger DD got into UCSD (6th) as well as UCI, UCD and UIUC for various Bio majors. At the moment she is leaning towards UCSD as we feel it has the best Bio program across all her admit schools. However her elder sis has got into UCI for a master’s in BioTechMgmt, as well as NYU, and she is inclined towards UCI as it has the better program. We are OOS, resident 10000 miles away so all schools are the same distance. My question is - does it make sense to have both DDs attend the same school i.e. UCI (so they can support each other in a foreign environment), or is UCSD so far ahead in quality that it is better to have younger DD attend UCSD and the elder one in UCI.
We have only 4 days to accept for elder DD. Hence any quick feedback is highly appreciated!
Best Biology program in terms of what rankings, curriculum?
Rankings wise there is little difference between UCSD and UCI.
UCSD’s Biology program is comparable to UCI’s program but I would compare the courses offered between both schools and see if there is any significant difference based on your daughters interest and major.
I personally would have loved to have both my son’s attend the same school. I think having that sibling support system especially since they are far away from home would be very beneficial.
Ultimately it is your daughter’s decision but there is no bad choice between the two.
Thanks for your prompt reply.
As far as rankings go, UCSD seems to be ahead of UCI based on QS, THE, ARWU, CWUR and Forbes rankings for 2020, and just one step behind UCI in the USN rankings. The Center for Monitoring Univ Performance also places UCSD ahead of UCI in terms of research ranking and focus on Life Sciences. Based on these, we felt UCSD Bio was slightly better than UCI Bio.
But as you said, sibling support system would definitely be a key factor. It is just that we are trying to convince the younger one that there isn’t too much of a difference between the two schools and that she will benefit more from having her elder sis around.
This may sound like a dumb question but can someone tell me what the SiR deposit amount is for UCSD this year? My D is leaning towards accepting her spot at UCSD but is waitlisted at UCLA & UCSB, so her plans could change. UCSD’s website has a button to accept the offer but it doesn’t show the amount.
Hello, Today is decision day and I am losing my mind. I was awarded Regents at UCSD and was admitted into 6th college. I am currently trying to decide between UCLA and UCSD (already rejected Cal). Can someone explain how many ppl get the regents and if it is really worth going to UCSD over LA for it? Also, honestly, how is UCSD food because I am verrrry picky and know LA has the best so just looking for an honest response. I have tried to weigh all the other factors and I am at a loss. Thank you and I’m hoping for a quick reply ?
My son was in the same position, except he got additional $10000 scholarship from UCSD ($15000 total per year) vs 0 at UCLA, he is CS major. We visited both campuses, read a lot about social atmosphere, culture, food at both campuses and he decided that UCLA is better school fo HIM. It can be wrong for YOU. My son applied to 13 schools (CS major) and was accepted to 12 (very good schools) and waitlisted to one. He got full ride is some colleges and very good scholarship in others. But money is only one part of equation (very important sometimes), and after we visited these schools, spoke with students on campus, searched internet etc, he choose UCLA based on his believe that this particular school is the best fit for his personalty. After all it is place where you will spend 4 or 5 years, and you should feel comfortable there. By the way food was really important for him too
